Blade wheel propeller



Dec. 10, 1940. A WAHL 2.224326 BLADE WHEEL PROPELLER Filed Nov. 16, 1938 M 38 F192 I6 LYNN ENVOK KLBERT WAY- BY t) Patented Dec. 10, 1940 PATENT; OFFICE 2,224,326 BLADE WHEEL FROPELLER/ Albert .Wahl, Heidenhelm-on-the-Brenz, Wurttemberg, Germany, assignor to Voith- Schneider Propeller Company, New-York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 19 38, Serlal No. 240,828

This invention relates to blade wheel propellers in which the rotary members are actuated by means of toothed wheels or gears from a movin shaft. In the use of blade wheel propellers of this kind it has been-found that the shocks to which the blades are subjected during their rotation in the water are transmitted to a relatively rigid connection of driving main gear and driving pinion. Also, the swinging movement of the blades causes reactions which are transmitted to the relatively rigid driving mechanism. Such actions bring about a rapid wear oi the transmission gearing which is already under heavy load, and in some cases due to sudden shocks a breaking oi the intermeshing teeth.

The object of the invention is to overcome the objections just pointed out and to provide an elastic connection between the wheel body and the driving gears whereby sudden shocks may be taken up and the swinging movement of the blades also compensated for.

For this purpose, the invention consists of a blade wheel propeller having a rotor and a driving gear-wheel, each forming a. coupling member, and an elastic, entirely metal coupling disposed between the coupling members.

,The invention will be more fully described hereinafter and an embodiment thereof shown in the drawing, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing: v

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a part of a blade wheel propeller embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a similar section 01 enlarged size with only part of the members shown in Figure and Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the Referring to the drawing, and more particu-- larly to Figure 1, 'a ship's hull i0 is shown with the usual opening ll wherein seats the casing l2 of a known blade wheel propeller in the wellknown manner. This blade wheel propeller has a plurality of blades is which are suitably actuated in oscillatory or swinging movement during their rotation. The mechanism for such swinging movement is generally indicated by [5, and a detailed description thereof is not entered into, as no novelty is claimed therein, and such mechanism is of known construction. Upon the ship's hull l0 and above the opening the bearings Germany December 21.1937

2 Claims. I (Cl. 170-150) H, the blade wheel propeller, casing it has an opening ll through which the driving shaft [8 passes and extends into the casing oi the propeller. The lower end of the driving shalt i8 is provided with a pinion gear l9, which in turn meshes witha driving gear which is provided at its hub with a ball bearing 2| of known construction. A part of the casing i6 oi the propeller is provided with a bearing 22, and another part is provided with a bearing 23. These bearings are direct pressure and thrust bearings. The part 16 the blade wheel propeller, which rotor portion 24 extends upwardly as indicated by towards the main driving gear 20. Between the main driving gear 20 and the upwardly extending rotor member 25, coupling springs, made entirely of metal and indicated by 26, are provided. A plurality of such springs 26 are circumierentially arranged so as to act as a mechanical connection betweenthe rotating main driving gear 20 and the rotor portion 25; to be driven thereby. These coupling members are of elastic metal and are so arranged as to transmit the power from the main drive gear to the rotor portion 25, yet allow for a certainamount of elastic movement between the parts 25 and 20. Thereby, any shocks is stationary, and cooperating with 22 and 23 is a rotor portion 26 of to which the propeller may be subjected are and also the gearing are journaled in the ship's body' without being disconnected from each other. -Any vibrations or swinging movements and shocks of the wheel body are immediately taken up by the ship's body, whereas, the elastic coupling does not conduct any shocks'or vibrations upon the gearing, so that the teeth of the gearing while in actuation are not injured or damaged or subjected to unnecessary wear.

.- In Figure 2 only part of the mechanism shown in Figure 1 is shown. ion 19, a driving gear zontal axle 3|, supported in shown.

The lower side of the gearwheel 20 is provided with a plurality of circumierentialiy disposed spaced openings, and likewise, the upper side of the rotor 25. Preferably, theseopenings are in registration with each other. The torsionally elastic coupling springs 26 are generally U- shaped with inwardly bent-portions and out- Instead of a driving pinthe housing i6 is 30, arranged on a horiinto the openings, either tightly or loosely.

There is one spring for each pair oi oppositely disposed openings. Thus, the coupling member iormed by the gearwheel 20, and the coupling member formed 01' the rotor 25, are connected with each other by a plurality of circumferentially disposed spaced springs, as shown in Figure 3,

having torsional elastic characteristics.

I have shown an embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that this is capable or variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of constructions set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations, modifications and adaptations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blade wheel propeller assembly, comprising a blade wheel propeller, a coupling member therefor, a driving mechanism for said blade wheel propeller, anothercoup'ling member attached to and forming part of said mechanism, and an elastic coupling disposed between said coupling members, said elastic coupling being a plurality of circumferentially disposed generally c-shaped springs bridging the coupling mem bers, and each spring having one end in one coupling member and the other end in the other coupling member.

2. In a blade wheel propeller assembly includ-- ing a main driving member, a circular rotor driven by said member, a plurality of oscillable blades substantially parallel with each other having vertical axes, circumferentially placed around ALBERT WAHL. 

